Bed-frame corner-block.



W. GROTENHUlS.

BED FRAME CORNER BLOCK.

APPLICATION HLED IAN-6.1913- Patented Jan, 16, 1917.

W 1 (1 M W A 95 y/WZ Wfirofcflkuzis WILLIAM J'. GROTENI-IUIS,-

CHICAGO, ILLINQIS.

BED-FRAME CORNER-BLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 168, 1917..

Application filed January 6, 1913. Serial No. 740,357.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. GRo'rnN-I-IUIS, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident ofChicago, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inBed-Frame Corner-Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to bed frame corner blocks, of that kind in whichthe block is secured to the leg or post of the bed frame, and in whichthe block is provided with a groove or socket for a correspondinglyshaped end portion of the side rail of the frame, the dropping of theside rail into position, serving automatically to tighten the joint thusformed at each end thereof.

Generally stated, the object of my invention is to provide a novel andhighly efficient bed frame corner block construction of the foregoinggeneral character.

Special objects are to provide an improved construction and arrangementwhereby the said corner block construction may be composed of sheetmetal bent or pressed into the required shape, instead. of the heavy andcrude castings which have ordinarily been employed for this purpose, andwhereby the joint of the corner block construction thus provided willautomatically and effectively tighten itself when the side rail isdropped in place, and without tending to bend or otherwise distort theportion thereof upon which the strain is imposed.

It is also an object to provide certain details of construction tendingto increase the general efficiency and serviceability of a corner blockconstruction of this particular character.

To these and other useful ends, my invention consists in mattershereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an end view of that portion ofthe corner block which is secured to the leg or post of the bed. Fig. 2is an end view of that portion of the corner block which is secured tothe side rail of the frame. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the endportion of the element shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation ofthe element shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of theelement shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the elementshown in Fig. 2. Figs. 7 and 8 show, respectively, the elements shown inFigs. 1 and 2, and are in the nature of a horizontal section on line 78in Figs. 5 and 6, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

As thus illustrated, the portion A of the corner block constructionwhich is secured to the post or leg of the bed, and which is shown inFigs. 1, 3, 5 and 7, comprises two parallel sheet metal strips a, whichare bent at their rear ends to provide the portions a that embrace thetubular leg or post of the bed, and which are provided attheir forwardends with bent portions a that provide a vertical socket a having a slota which opens on the face or end of the element A, in the manner shown.The said face or end of the element A is formed by the two verticallydisposed surfaces a disposed at opposite sides of the entrance slots asaid surfaces being inclined slightly, at their upper ends toward theleg or post of the bed, whereby these surfaces, in effect, provide abevel or incline. The sheet metal portions a are held together by asheet metal plate a provided with downturned side edges or flanges athat embrace the portions a and hold them against lateral dis placement.The plate a is provided with an opening a which forms the top of thesocket or opening a it being observed that the said socket or opening issimply the general interior of the element A, and does not have theshape of the opening a through out the vertical length thereof, as thisis not necessary. It is true, however, that the provision of the saidsocket, by bending the portions a inward and against the sides of theportion a, results in the formation of the grooved shoulders a withinthe element 'A, at opposite sides of the slot a which shoulders are inthe form of rounded grooves which extend exactly vertical from top tobottom of the block. Spot welding or other means may be employed forholding the sheet, metal parts in place and together.

The element B which forms the other half of the corner blockconstruction, and which is shown in Figs. 2, 4, 6 and 8, is secured tothe end of the side rail in any suitable or desired manner, as byinserting rivets through the holes 1) shown in the side thereof. Thiselement B is composed .of the sheet metal side portions 6 which are bentaround and together at their front ends to form the neck portions 6which are then bent apart to form the laterally projecting portions 22the intermediate portions Z) forming the face or engaging surfaces ofthe element B, said surfaces being disposed at opposite sides of theneck portions 6 and said surfaces being inclined outwardly at theirupper endsthat is to say, in the same direction in which the endsurfaces of the element A are inclined. The locking end portion *of theelement B is then formed by a short piece of sheet metal which is benttogether at its ends to provide portions 6 which bear against the neckportions 5 and which has its middle or intermediate portions bent insuch a manner as to provide rounded and vertically disposed shoulders b,and the curved end wall If, it being observed that the formation isadapted to fit and pass through the opening a of the other element ofthe block. An internal reinforce is provided for the element 13 in theform of a strip of sheet metal 6 which is secured to the portion 6 and,in addition, there is a plate Z2 which covers the top of the element B,and which is provided with downturned flanges 12 and I) that hold theconstruction together. It will be understood that all of these sheetmetal parts thus bent into proper shape, and arranged to fit to-'gether, are held in place by spot welding or any suitable means.

In operation, the end portion of the element B is dropped through theopening a of the element A, the shoulders b fitting and sliding withinthe grooves a there being no tapered or wedge-like formation in thisrespect, as these shoulders are of the same formation from top tobottom. It will be seen, however, that the portions 6 bear hard againstthe portions a and this is where the wedging action takes place, becausethese meeting surfaces of the two elements are inclined in the samedirection, and as the element B moves downward, it endeavors by reasonof this wedging action to 'move endwise away from the element A, in

a manner that will be readily understood. This wedging action serves,therefore, to pull the shoulders b tightly and firmly into the grooves aand the proportions and construction are such that the relative movementceases as soon as the two elements are flush or level at their uppersurfaces. The wedging action is effective in making a tight joint, butat the same time it is not of such character that it tends to distortthe sheet metal parts, especially that portion of the element B thatenters into the socket a, and which is of a shape which might tend tosqueeze together or become distorted, were the wedging action made totake place within the element A, instead of outside thereof. The wedgingaction occurs between flat oppositely disposed surfaces, which aresubstantially braced against distortion, and in this way the cornerblock construction thus provided is capable of being made of sheetmetal, and of making a tight joint, without danger of being bent out ofshape.

Another advantage is that the portions a are drawn together by theportions b", because of the interlocking action of the hooklikeshoulders I) and the grooves a This keeps the portions a from spreadingapart, and makes a tight joint. Thus, if the slot a of the bifurcatedelement A becomes spread or widened, the connection of the two elementswill draw the two portions (6:

toward each other and into tight engagement with the portions 6 Eachfront end portion of the element A. is compressed between the shouldersZ) and the portion 0 by reason of the wcdging fit between these portions6 and the portions (L as previously explained.

Vi hat I claim as my invention is:

1. In corner block construction for bed frames, a pair of couplingelements consisting of a resilient post section and a side rail sectionhaving engaging surfaces inclined in a direction to force the sectionsaway from each other, when the rail section is dropped into place, andprovided with interlocking means subject to a tight ening action by thewedging engagement of said surfaces, having engaging portions andshoulders whereby the rail section compresses and holds the post sectionagainst lateral spread.

2. In corner block construction for bed frames, a pair of couplingelements consisting of a post section and a side rail section havingengaging surfaces inclined in a di rection to force the sections awayfrom each other, when therail section is dropped into place, providedwith interlocking means subject to a tightening action by the wedgingengagement of said surfaces, having engaging portion and shoulderswhereby the rail section compresses and holds the post section againstlateral spread, said Surfaces being four in number, one at each side ofthe longitudinal center line of each element, one pair of surfaces beingseparated by a vertical slot, and the other pair of surfaces beingseparated by a neck which enters said slot when the two sections arebrought together,

relapse and said means including mutually engaging shoulders at oppositesides of said slot and neck, which shoulders are held together by thepull exerted on said neck by the en gagement of said surfaces.

3. In corner block construction for bed frames, a pair of couplingelements consisting of a post section and a side rail section havingengaging surfaces inclined in a direction to force the sections awayfrom each other, when the rail section is dropped into place, providedwith interlocking means subject to a tightening action by the wedgingengagement of said surfaces, having engaging portions and shoulderswhereby the rail section compresses and holds the post section againstlateral spread, said elements having their cooperating portions made ofsheet metal, the sheet metal being doubled back upon itself to form thesaid interlock ing means.

l. in corner block construction for bed frames, a pair of couplingelements eonsisting of a post section and a side rail section havingengaging surfaces inclined in a direction to force the sections awayfrom each other, when the rail section is dropped into place, providedwith interlocking means subject to a tightening action by the wedgingengagement of said surfaces, having engaging portions and shoulderswhereby the rail section compresses and holds the post section againstlateral spread, said surfaces being external of said elements, saidinterlocking means having engaging shoulders which are disposed betweenthe said surfaces and the end of the bed frame, said elements havingtheir cooperating portions made of sheet metal, the sheet metal beingbent upon itself to form the said interlocking means.

5. In corner block construction for bed frames, a pair of couplingelements consisting of a post section and a side rail section havingengaging surfaces inclined in a direction to force the sections awayfrom each other, when the rail section is dropped into place providedwith interlocking means sul ject to a tightening action by the wedgingengagement of said surfaces, having engaging portions and shoulderswhereby the rail section compresses and holds the post section againstlateral spread, said surfaces being four in number, one at each side ofthe longitudinal center line of each element, one pair of surfaces beingseparated by a vertical slot, and the other pair of surfaces beingseparated by a neck which enters said slot, when the two sections arebrought together said means including mutually engaging shoulders atopposite sides of said slot and neck, which shoulders are held togetherby the pull exerted on said neck by said surfaces, said elements havingtheir cooperato. In corner block construction for bed frames, a paircoupling elements consisting of a pest section and a side rail sectionhaving engaging surfaces inclined in a direction to force the sectionsaway from each other, when the rail section is dropped into place,provided with interlocking means subject to a tightening action by thewedging engagement of said surfaces, having engaging portions andshoulders whereby the rail section compresses and holds the post sectionagainst lateral spread, said interlocking means having a straightsliding fit, as distinguished from the wedging fit of said sur faces.

7. In corner block construction for bed frames, a pair of couplingelements consisting of a post section and a side rail section havingengaging surfaces inclined in a direction to force the sections awayfrom each other, when the rail section isdropped into place, providedwith interlocking means subject to a tightening action by the wedgingengagement of said surfaces, having engaging portions and shoulderswhereby the rail section compresses and holds the post section againstlateral spread, said surfaces being external of said elements, and saidinterlocking means having engaging shoulders which are disposed betweenthe said surfaces and the end of the bed frame, said interlocking meanshaving a straight sliding fit, as di tinguished from the wedging fit ofsaid surfaces.

8. In corner block construction for bed frames, a pair of couplingelements consisting of a post section and a side rail section havingengaging surfaces inc-lined in a direction to force the sections awayfrom each other, when the rail section is dropped into place, andprovided with interlocking means subject to a tightening action by thewedging engagement of said surfaces, having engaging portions andshoulders whereby the rail section compresses and holds the post sectionagainst lateral spread, one of said elements being bifurcated at itsends, and said means and surfaces cooperating to hold the two portionsof said bifurcated end against spreading apart.

9. In corner block construction for bed frames, a pair of couplingelements consisting of a post section and a siderail section havingengaging surfaces inclined in a direction to force the sections awayfrom each other, when the rail section is dropped into place, andprovided with interlocking means subject to a tightening action by thewedging engagement of said surfaces, having engaging portions andshoulders whereby the rail section holds the post section againstlateral spread, one of said elements having 10 member and prevent thesame from spreading apart, said ends being hook-shaped, and two of saidshoulders being curved to engage the hollows of said hooks.

Signed by me at Chicago, Illinois, this 26th day of December, 1912.

WILLIAM J. GROTENHUIS.

Witnesses H. KNUDsoN, G. E. GRANsTRoM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

